The recent announcement that Clearbridge Investments LLC has raised its holdings in Huntsman Co. (NYSE:HUN) by 3.8% in the fourth quarter highlights a growing trend of interest from investors and traders alike. With an additional 22,183 shares acquired during Q4, Clearbridge Investments LLC now holds a total of 607,041 shares of the basic materials company’s stock, making up around 0.32% of Huntsman’s total worth – valued at $16,681,000 based on the latest SEC filing.
This rise in interest is not without good reason – as Huntsman announced on May 5th in their quarterly earnings data report, it reported better than predicted results, with earnings per share (EPS) standing at $0.20 for the quarter – beating analyst predictions by $0.04 per share. The company also posted a net margin of 5.11% and a return on equity of 11.16%, demonstrating solid profitability in what have been challenging times globally.
Huntsman Corp operates as a leading manufacturer of differentiated organic chemical products under three separate segments; Polyurethanes, Performance Products and Advanced Materials – markets that historically react well to economically turbulent periods throughout history. These segments enable the expansion into numerous end applications such as automotive, aerospace and flooring – all within reasonably attractive markets even amidst current global uncertainty.
The annual prediction for EPS remains encouraging with research analysts estimating a figure of around 1.46 EPS for this year.
All factors considered are rendering Huntsman Corp an increasingly attractive option both short term & long position investors.As previously mentioned sectors such as performance products coupled with undervalued estimates alongside consistent growth over time should see HUN maintain its elevated stature through months & years to come – justifying attention from heavyweight corporates such as Clearbridge Investments LLC seeking growth beyond already established industry giants within or twinned areas geographically privy to sustained economic growth prospects in metropolises such as Asia.
Huntsman Corporation: A Chemically Focused Business with Strong Shareholder Value
Huntsman Corporation is a global manufacturer of differentiated organic chemical products, operating in three distinct segments: Polyurethanes, Performance Products, and Advanced Materials. The company recently announced a quarterly dividend of $0.2375 per share to be paid on June 30th to stockholders of record on June 15th. This represents an annualized dividend payout of $0.95 per share and a dividend yield of 3.76%. Huntsman also reported that nearly 88% of its shares are currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
Several analysts have recently issued ratings on the stock, with Bloomberg reporting an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $29.33 per share. Despite this, the company’s stock recently opened at $25.28 on the NYSE, which is within its range over the last 52 weeks.
Numerous institutional investors and hedge funds have recently adjusted their stakes in Huntsman. Great Valley Advisor Group Inc., First Wilshire Securities Management Inc., Creative Planning, TCI Wealth Advisors Inc., and Yousif Capital Management LLC all increased their positions in various quarters throughout the past year by up to approximately 48%. These additions show confidence in the company’s ability to maintain or increase shareholder value into the future.
Overall, Huntsman Corporation is a chemically focused business that continues to drive strong shareholder value through efficient and effective operations of three highly specialized segments in the industry. While some analysts have lowered their expectations for the stock price in recent months, it remains to be seen what the future holds for Huntsman as they continue to manufacture products that meet modern demands for high performance chemicals across several sectors including transportation systems, construction materials and textiles amongst others.
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